Cam box for knitting machines



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J. P. PRIMM CAIl BOX FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 14, 1924 s sheetsheet 5 WITNESSES INVENTOR 7@ M Y PPI-mw M 8% K,

ATTORNEYS ,iatented Uec. l, lg

inane enr JOSEPH PARKS PRMM, OIE' ROME, GEORGA, ASSIGNGR 0F ONE-FGURTH T0 HENRY R. :BERRY AND UNE-FOURTH T0 JOHN M. BERRY, BOTH 0F ROME, GEORGIA.

GAM BOX FOR KNI'ETING- MACHNES.

Application filed lTune le, 1924. Serial No. 729,030.

To all whom t may concern.'

Re it known that I, Josmiir Pnnis Parmi, a citizen of the United States, and resident oit Home, in the county ot Floyd and State ot Georgia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Cam Boxes for linitting lllachines, ot which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in knitting machines, particularly of the circular knitting type, and it consists ot the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

jin object of the invention is to provide a circular knitting machine having such an arrangement of cams, or the equivalent thereoll as will largely confine the operation ot the hooks, cheeks and latches of the needles within the sinkers, thereby establishing` several outstanding advantages, principal ot which is the relaxation of the tension on the stitches.

Another object of the invention, and one relating directly to the foregoing statement, is to permit the use ot varying sizes of threads on the same machine without makingI any adjustments whatever and still produce an article which will prove to be of correct dimensions when placed upon what is known as a size board.

Another object oit the invention is to provide a machine ior knittingl circular articles, such as i'full length and halt hose, the particular improvement residing in the cam bor in which the cams are so arranged that the needles will work lower in respect to the sinkers, thereby knitting in lumps and knots in the yarn as well as heavy places without damaging either the needles or the sinkers and producing fewer seconds.

Another object oit the invention is to provide an improved cam box toi' knitting machines by the use ot which there is consideiably less tension on the stitches during the stitch-forming and stitch-casting operations with a resulting reduction in the wear on the needles and sinkers and also with the result that better and more uniformly dyed articles are produced by virtue ot the relai;l tion of the tension on the thread.

Other objects and advantages will appea in the Jfollowing specification, reference heing had to the accon'ipanyingl drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section ot a portion of a knitting` machine embodying the improved cam box.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view illustrating the various cams involved, and also showing the variouspositions assumed by the needles when operated by the cams.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic section of enough ot the knitting machine to illustrate the iirst step in a halt-hose knitting operation when the cylinder cup worm is turned to lower the needle cylinder and in etl'ect raise all ot' the needles in respect to the sinkers preparatory to transferring an elastic top.

Figure e is a detail sectional view again illustrating the position ot one of the needles in the transferring operation,

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating` the second step in the knitting operation in which the sinkers are slid out in order to let the stitches down to the sinker throat.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the position ot the needle in respect to the sinker throat upon again raising the needle cylinder to the normal position as in the third step of the knitting operation.

Figure Z is a diagram illustratino` the lirst step of forming the stitch, the sinker having been worked out.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the second step :in forming a stitch, the sinker still being out.

Figure Si is a diagram illustrating the third step in which the stitch 'is about completed, the sinker being on the way in.

Figure l0 is a detail perspective view ot that halt of the cam box containing the cams shown in Figure V2, the yarn guide being shown raised. i

Figure 1l is a detail perspective view ot the other halt ot' the cam box.

Figure l2 is a detail plan view ot the sinkcr cam ring shown in Figure 1, illustrating the cam which moves the sinkers in and out.

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the right transfer stitch cam mentioned below. V

Figure lll is a diagrammatic sectional view of a type of knitting machine other than that illustrated in the foregoing views, again J. E. Howe, December' l2, 1905i #$06,921. rllhis machine is known on the market as the Jenckes knittin` machine and is herein so relerred to. Reference is also made o1 a type of circular knittingl machine known as the Scott and llliliiains machine which operates on a principle slightly di'l lerent from that oi the denckes machine. rl`hese are cited merely as examples oit knitting machines which have been modified to embody the principles ot the invention, hecause it conceivable that knitting` inachines ot types other than those disclosed may likewise be inodi'ried with the results fully set forth below.

Attention is directed to Figure l. rhe needles l reciprocate in grooves in the needle cylinder of the Jenckes machine here disclosed. The butts 3 of the needles are acted upon by cams mounted on the vinside of the cani cylinder Ll7 (Figs. 2 and l0) in a inanner somewhat dilierent- `trom the present custom.

rEhe needle cylinder 2 remains stationary while the caro cylin ei r L To this end the cylindewlV is pio le@ o. v. ith a flange G which is held in a recess in the base S by a ringl 9. The i'lange o' the cani cylinder Llcarries a gear l() which is atiiied thereto by screws ll. The gear l@ meshes with and is continuously driven by a gear l2 on the clutch shaft 123, producing the rotation ot the cam cylinder mentioned betere. lnasmuch as the cani cylinder yil rotates reciprocation of the needles l occurs by the action ot the cams on the inside ot said cylinder resultingl in the production oif stitches in a manner connnonly known.

n ringe; il is secured to the upper end ot the needle cylinder and is suitably lz grooved to receive tho siokes l5 ol which there are many. Figfjures l to i) inclusive illustrate a typical sinlier construction. Each sini-:er includes a heel il? and a throat 1T. There are as many needles as there are sinhers. he .needles w rk in the spaces between the sinkers. and in doing,v so form the stitches. rlhe siukers are operated by a sinker cam ring 18 Fig. l2). rl`he groore 19 of the sini-:er cani ring receives the heels l@ ot the sinkcrs. rl`he major part or this Agroove is concentric.. but at one side there is a cani 2O which causes the sinkers to slide in and out in respect to the needle cylinder 2.

A cup ringi 2l novides the foundation i upon which the needle cylinder 2 is re niovably supported. This ring` has an in diy projecting tlange 22 carrying screws 23 upon the heads which the needle cyller rests. rllhe cup ring); has a clampingl irrangeinent 2l at one side. and a handle 2f? by wnich the saine may be tightened.

Situated inuneoiately below the cup ring is what is inown in the Jenckes mav i la '1,563,788

chine as the cylinder cup worm 26. The ring 2l is kept in Contact with the worin 26 by a spring` 2T. The worin has a lug 28 into which a handle 2S) screwed (Fig. l.) or otherwise lixed so that shifting of the handle turns the worm. To this end the handle extends out at the lett side olithe machine where it may be grasped by the operator tor the purpose stated. order that the worin shall inove up and down as it is turned the worm rides upon lugs 1 which are fixed upon the lraine. fr shitting ot the handle 29 thus causes tu iing; ot the worin 26,. cup rinl 2l, needle cylinder 2. `inkers l5 and the sinker cani "g: 151. t i-.sc parte. being carried by the vor oit shitting' the handle.

Situated inside oit' the cani boi; at the bottoni is a ring or cani 8l. herein known as a rib. During` the foregoing downward movement ot the needle cylinde' 2. etc.. the butts 3 ot the needles will soon reach the rib 3l in effect causing an elevation olfA the needles so that the hooks and cheeks will be projected above the sinkers l5 (Figs. and l). Each needle includes a. latch 34 which is pivoted in the che-eli. Circuinterential springs 35 in suitable grooves in the needle cylinder 2 hold the needles in place.

Consider Figures 2 and 10. The cam cylinder contains cams 36, 37, 38, 3S, l0 and ill none of' which are involved in the present consideration. rl`he cams 42, e?) and 44 and 69 remain as in the present rlenckes machine. The cam 44, known as the transfer switch earn is capable og@ being' moved up and down in a groove 4.5 in the rib 3l by means ol u lever 4G (Fifi: l0) provided 'tor the purpose. rllhis cani has a channel t7 (Fie: i3) through which the butts ol" the needles pass.

rlhe invention begins with the omission ol rib situated inside ot the cam cylinder l ano e short distance above the rib 3l disclosed herein. rlhe omission of this upper rib has an important result. It is to be borne in mind that moving' the handle 29 from the operating or dotted line position to the lull line position causes the lowering ol the needle cylinder 2. This act causes the hooks 32 and cheeks 33 of' the needle. to project above the sinkers by virtue ot the engagement ot the butts with the relatively stationary rib 31.

lt is while the needles are thus projected above the sinhers that an elastic top 4S is pi in place on the knitting' machine. 'lhe e tic top is knit on a separate inaehine. and at one end it terminates in loops or stitclws 49 which are preferably lett large or loose. Prior to placing` the elastic top 4S upon the knitting machine, it is lil-ted upon the points ot a transfer device InV lll() lili or quill ring commonly used in the art. The

stitches 49 are placed upon the points mentioned. The quill ring having an elastic top is now superimposed upon the upstanding needles, and upon reaching up insidel of the knitting machine the operator may grasp the `end of the elastic top 48 and pull it suficiently so that the stitches 49 move down upon the needles.

In practice it is not always necessary that the operator reach up inside of the machine because with a little skill and experience the transfer device can be so manipulated as to leave the elastic top upon the upstanding needles. The stitches 49 are quite loose.

Having transferred the elastic top 48 to the needles of the knitting machine the operator gives the sinker cam ring 18 one or more turns. This causes each of the sinkers l5 to slide outward (Fig. 5) producing a channel through which the stitches 49 may drop into the throats 17. The stitches 49 being loose can readily pass over the cheeks 33. It is now that the operator may reach up inside of the machine to pull down on the top 48 so as to make sure that all of the stitches slide down into the sinker throats.

Having accomplished the foregoing step the operator moves the handle 29 (Fig. 3) back to the dotted line or original position. This causes the elevation of the needle cylinder 2, and consequently of the sinkers 15 as well. The needles l, being frictionally held adjacent the needle cylinder by the circumferential springs 35, will not alter in relationship to the cylinder and consequently will be elevated therewith. This is true of all of the needles with the exception of those the butts 3 of which happen to be under the stationary cams 42 and 43 (Fig. 2). cSuch needles will be retarded and the hooks 32 thereof will disappear beneath the sinkers. However, sov few needles are involved that the resulting pulling on the stitches 49 of the top 48 produces but a negligible strain which is therefore not taken into account.

By virtue of the fact that the majority of the needle hooks 32 move up with the cylinder 2 and sinkers l5 it is quite obvious that the needles preserve the same relationship to the stitch-es 49 in the elevated position of the cylinder as they did in the lowered position, with th-e result that no strain is imposed upon the stitches in moving the cylinder from one to the other position, the exception of the needles held down by the cams 42 and 43 being noted. Up to this time the stitches 49 are practically loose upon the needles. This preservation of the relationship of the needles l with the cylinder 2 during the movementof the cylinder from the lowered to the elevated position is the direct result of omitting the second rib of the Jenckes machine.

It is now necessary to describe the result of the corresponding action in the .lenckes machine. lt is to be borne in mind that the Jenckes machine has two ribs, similar to the rib 31, spaced apart. According to this construction all of the needles are pulled down below the level of the sinkers when elevating the needle cylinder' 2 after a top transferring operation the hooks 32 thereby pulling all of the stitches 49 of the top down between the sinkers and imposing such a strain and stretching` upon the stitches that breaks frequently happen. There is no looseness of the stitches 49 whatever. The presence of the upper rib in the Jenckes machine is the reason for the foregoing pulling down of the stitches 49. The butts 3 of the needles being situated between the rib and the upper rib holds the needles down so that they cannot move up with the cylinder 2 and therefore that relationship between the needles and the cylinder is preserved which maintains the looseness of the stitches 49 attained in the improved machine.

The invention also includes a pair of cams herein known as the left initiator cam 50 (Fig. 2) and the right initiator cam 5l. Each of these cams is pivoted at 52 and respectively. rlhese cams are made sufficiently long to reach from the fixed cams 42 and 54, with which they co-operate, to the single rib 3l. T he purpose of these cams in the Jenckes machine is to direct the needle butts upon the various cams 42 and 54 when the cam cylinder either rotates in one direction continuously or when it partakes of a reciprocatory motion. The Jenckes machine has cams for a similar purpose, but such cams are relatively short in that they have only to span the distance between the cams and 54 and the uppermost rib mentioned before.

A third cam 55 (Fig. ll) is for the purpose of elevating those of the needles that have long butts so that they will be out of action when knitting heels and toes according to the established operation of the .'i'enckes machine. rlhis cam is capable of bcing thrown into and out of action by certain ratchet mechanisms forming part of the Jenckes machine. Such mechanism is not disclosed herein. By virtue oi the omission of the upper rib in the cam cylinder 4 it has become necessary to lengthen the cam in order to reach the rib 3l.

Another and extremely important function of the invention lies in confining the hooks 32, cheek 33 and latches 34 of the needles l within the sinkers l5 and below the upper surface thereof (Figs. (S, 8 and 9) during the greater part of the operation. lt is only when the needle butts 3 ride upon the initiator.' cam 50 (Fig. 2) and over the cams 42 and 43 that the upper ends of the needles appear above the sinkers (Fig. 7).

Utl

' The needle hooks 32 are brought to the level of the sinkers, b v the switch cani it The channel fl-7 ot this cam directs the needle butts into the plane s (lfigr. 2) when in the active position, the occupation ot the plane a h v the butts l cm'respoinlincl 'with tlify liush position ot the hooks 32 (Fi ti) with the upper surface ot the sink' This is the norinal Working' position ot the needles cordingr to the invention.

rlie switch cani al in practice moved down in the groove l5.' appropriately operatin the lever iti (Fig. lo) when ther needle cylinder is lowered. f' d it is cle vated to the position in Fie re i?. when the cylinder 2 is elevated. Thi ccoinplished by inanual ettort in the .lenY a.; machine, and the Ytunctii'in oit the cani l still obtains in the iinproved machine. The cani also capable olf automatic operation l cause it is throvvn out when knitting` halt-hose by a stop link. ln he Jenclies machine the sutching` cani l# serves to direct the needle butts toward the upper rib.r there being an additional cani in advance olf th.l rib to provide a path up which the butts niove. This cain is eliminated because neither the upper' rib is used nor do the needle butts rise to the height ot such second rib` excepting When riding` over the Canis 50, and 43.

Upon letting the latch ring' or yarn carrier 56 (Fig. l0) doivn, the machine is readvv to be started. lt is this ring that supplies the thread to the needles in operation. The cheeks 33 are not forced up through the stitches 49 after having coinpletcd a stitch as in Figure 7. This is because the needle hooks reinain even with the siukers. ln the Jenckes machine, thc needles are constantly above the sinkers, and instead ot normallj.v standing; as in Figure (i they stand so high that the hooks, cheeks and latches are ei;- posed. This circumstance inakes it necesto torce the cheeks ot the needles througli a coinpleted stitch to reach said nornial position in the i,lenckes inachine, thereby stretching each individual stitch and iinnosing vfear not onliv upon the stitch itself but upon the needle as Well.

rlhis forcing ot the needle cheeks through the completed stitch in the .lenckes niaehine is n'iadc evident lh' an abnormal tension on the threads constitutingl the stitch.

The tension under which the thread is put is noticeable in Watching' the operation et the Jenckes inachine because there is a inarked tendency ot. the stitches to slightlv follow the needles upward. rllhe abnorn'ial tension to which the stitches are subjected is also noticeable upon dyeing the hose. the evidence being' a perceptible ripple in the color that detracts troni the appearance of the article.

By keeping,` the needle hooks below the sinkers, and not forcing the needles and cheeks through the stitches, the stitches are lett loose upon the needles (Fig. 6) thereby resultiina` in another important advantage. Actual experimentation has proved that a ivide variation ot sizes ot threads may be run through the knitting' inachine without in theleast atl'ectinc` either the character or size ot' the hose produced. This is due to the looseness ot the stitch and to the lack ot strain or tension thereon. In the Jenckes machine it is necessary to inake an adjustinent before changing` thread sizes otherwise the hose will be loneer or shorter than intended.

lt soinetiines happens that a needle butt will break oli' during' the knitting` operation. there beineA nothing' to now actuate the needle it will reinain in place, being held by the circumferential springs $35. Then this happens in the present lenckes machine in which the needles always stand above the sinkers, the breaking of a butt will leave that needle standing at an elevated position above the sinkers. rlhe thread Will begin to wrap around this needle causing it to bend, in (urn causing' an adjacent needle to bend, and iinallv cloggingY the action of the inachine to such an extent that a breaking of needles will occur. r)cn or more needles have been known to break in succession in this nianner. 7With the needles protected as in Figure 9 no needle breakage can occur, and the worst that can happen is a run in the stocking.

Figure Ll illustrates enough of a Scott and lilliains circular knitting inachine to show the medication oit the cains for' the purposes ot the invention. The cani cylinder 5T in this inachine is stationary and the needle cylinder 5S revolves. The Canis 59, (it), 6l and 62 corroiiipond with the cains 4-2, Ill-, and 38 (Fig. 2) ot the Jenckes niachine. The cains 63 and 64 correspond with the initiator cains 50 and 5l. As in the Jenckes machine the cains 63 and Se have been specially designed to span the space between the cams 59 and (il and that por'- tion ot the cani cylinder 57 upon Which the butts G5 of the needles 66 run. Cain 60, as weil as cains 67 and 68, have been redesigned to contorni to the new arrangement of the cani cylinder. It is regarded as unnecessar)7 to either describe or illustrate much ot the tbc-ott and illilliains machine because the principles ot operation are substantially identical with those of the Jenckes niachine already described. rlllhe purpose of Fig. M is nicrely7 to illustrate how a niachine other than the rlenckcs inachine can be inoditied to en'ibodv the invention. The saine advantages of housing the needle hooks Within the sinkcrs obtain here.

The operation et the Jenckes machine is reviewed in order to emphasize the advantages arising' from the improvements. In

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order to avoid repeating the description of manipulating the handle 29 (Fig. 8) it may be assumed that a ribbed or elastic top 48 is hung upon the needles 1 by the loose stitches 49 at one end oi" the top. rllhe needles now stand above the sinkers 15 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. One or more rotations of the sinker cani rings 18 will successively slide the sinkers 15 outward and back (Fig. 5) so that the loose stitches 49 may drop down upon the needles into the throats 17. The stitches 49 are purposely made large so that they may readily slide over the cheeks 33 ot the needles.

Upon properly shitting the lever 46 F ig. 10) the switching` cam 44 (Fig. 2) is moved upward out ot' the groove 45 in the rib 31 into which it was formerly moved by the reverse operation of the lever. The cam 44 then assumes the operative position above the rib 31. Upon giving the cam cylinder 4 several turns before starting` the machine (this being done by a handle provided for the purpose), the channel 47 will cause t-he needle butts 3 to be elevated into the plane t (Fig. 2) in position to be picked up by the point of the initiator cam 50. rlhis cam carries the butts upward so that they assume the position indicated at l), and it is only when the butts are thus elevated that the needle hooks appear above the sinkers 15 as indicated by the broken line c in Figure 1.

Figure 6 illustrates the relationship of a needle 1 and the hooks 32 to the sinker 15 at the position A in Figure 2. The butt 3 of this needle has been elevated into the plane a by the cam 44. All ot the needles from the right of the switch cam 44 around the cam cylinder 4 to the lett ot the initiator cam 50 assume the same position during the operation of the knit-ting machine, and it is in this position that the looped stitches rest immediately below the needle hooks where they are held by the sinkers with the desired looseness which renders subsequent forcing through of the needle cheeks and latches easy.

Figure 7 illustrates the position of the needle at the position B in Figure 2. The needle hook 32 and a cheek 33 have been thrust through the previously looped stitch to clear the latch 34 and have reached the thread provided by the yarn carrier 56 preparatory to forming a stitch. The sinker 15 has been slid or worked out by the sinker cam 20 (Fig. 12). The latch 34 is down.

Figure 8 illustrates the needle at the position C in Figure 2. The latch 34 has moved up and the needle is shown about ready to cast the stitch 49 which is yet in place thereon. The sinker 15 is now on the way in.

Figure 9 shows the needle at the position D in Figure 2. The sinker 15 is about all the way in, and the stitch 49 has been cast.' The looseness of the stitch 49 is noticeable.

lt is this looseness of the stitch, or the lack oit excessive tension on the thread, that permits the use of a wide variation in the size oic thread without making any compensating adj ustment.

The inventioi'i also involves several steps of an improved method of knitting. @t necessity the new steps ot the process are asso ciated with and supported by steps in the knitting operation already old in the Jenckes machine.

Step 1 consists ot elevating the needles l with the needle cylinder 2 and the sinkers 15 so as to preserve the relationship of the needle hooks with the sinkers and prevent pulling the stitches ot an elastic top previously iitted upon the needles down between the sinkers as is the case when the needles are held rigid and relative movement of the sinkers occurs when the needle cylinder is elevated in the Jenckes machine. The relationship ot all hooks with the sinkers 15 is preserved in the case ot all of the needles excepting those few the butts of which happen to be under the iixed cam 42 and 43 (Fig. 2).

Step 2 consists of coniining the hook 32, cheek 38 and latch 34 of each needle within the sinkers 15 after the casting of a stitch so as to hold the completed stitch upon the needle between the hook and cheek in a loose condition (Fig. 6), thereby keeping the stitch off ot' the cheek and latch and preventing tension on the stitch as in the Jenckes machine where the needle cheeks are forced through the completed stitch to reach the normal and resting position above the sinkers.

Numerous advantages arise from incorporating the Jforegoing method steps in the operation o knitting. The looseness of the stitch in both steps cannot be emphasized too strongly. The looseness of the stitch upon the shank of the needle after casting, according to step 2, has an advantage of its own. Experiments have been made to prove that the machine will knit in heavy places, lumps and knots in the thread without even so much as straining the stitch much less breaking the thread.

It is the function of the sinkers to roll the fabric inwardly as the knitting operation proceeds. All lumps, knots and heavy places are in turn rolled inwardly, the needles readily holding the stitches containing such lumps, etc., without any strain on the fabric, because the stitches are primarily loose and are not under tension.

lt is for the same reason that a wide variation in the size of threads may be run through the knitting machine and still arrive at the same result S0 far as the character, length, etc., oi the finished article is concerned. By virtue of the fact that the comn pleted or cast stitch rests upon the shank of CII the needle, and the needle cheeks and latches are not forced through the completed stitch as in the Jenckes machine, there is considerably less wear on the butts of the needles as wel-l as on the needles themselves. This advent e in turn is reflected in the reduc-l tion of near on the machine rin `general, ultimately requiring e. vi less oil to maintain the machine in running,` order.

It has been found by actual experimentation that plaitingl operation can he carried out more successfully in a knitting n-,achine embodying the principles oit the invention than with the flenckes machine oit present construction. The combination ot #150 Denier urtnicial silk and :#:30 single cotton was used` lt was jt'ound that by introducing' the silk and cotton at proper angles the stitch i'iorniinp,` operations were carried through successfully, keeping` the cotton on the inside and tle silk on the outside.

lt has been observed that a knitting` machine, particularly a Standard knitting machine, when operated with the improved cam boxY embodied therein produces an at tractive 'form ot Vstitch at the gore of the heel and toe. rllhis stitch ot a regular open character having` an appearance very much like that of a hem-stitch. Hose made in this manner are quite attractive in appearance, and make a more readily salable article.

The success in this particular use of the knittingl machine is attributed to the tact that all undue tension on the thread is prevented by keeping the needles housed below the sinkers, thereby preventing interference with the stitch after it has been cast by the stitch cam. By virtue et the fact that the stitch is left perfectly loose after it has been cast and avoiding;` all undue friction between the stitch and needle parts plaitin` is made successfully possible whereas in other machines it has been unsatisfactory.

l. claim:-

l. The horeiiulescribed process consisting' oli -drawing' needles in a cylinder machine below the sinkers to loop stitches thereupon, causing; a relative motion oit the co-actine` sinkers preparatory to holding the looped stitches upon the needlesA raising the needles until the looped stitches .rest imnxediately below the hooks where they are held by the suikers, maintaining said hooks in the aforesaid position thereby preserving` an initial loosencss in the looped stitches until a subsequent thrust oit the needles wherein the latches clear the stitches and thrusting,` the needles through said stitches thatl the latches may clear the stitches preparatory to forming' new stitches, said initial looseness permitting` said thrusting` through of the needles without distorting,l the stitches.

2. The steps of the herein described process consisting et drawing needles in a cylinder machine below the sinkers to loop stitches upon the needles with pre-determined looseness, and thereafter raising the needles only su'liiciently to dispose the stitches between the needle hooks and latches thereby maintaining said stitch looseness until a subsequent action of the needles, wherein the needle cheeks and latches are thrust through said stitches.

css consisting ot drawing needles in a cylinder machine below the sinkers to loop stitches upon the needles, and thereafter raising the needles in reference to co-acting` sinkers only to such extent that the stitches lie in'unediately below the needle hoons and that the needle hooks remain confined within the boundaries of said sinkers until a subsequent action ot the needles wherein the needle cheeks and latches are thrust through said stitches, thereby avoiding any distortion ot the stitches.

4. A knitting machine having a cylinder, needles carried thereby, sinkers mounted upon the needle cylinder; in combination a cam cylinder, a system of cams carried thereby tor actuating the needles including a stitch cam over which the needle butts pass to depress the needle hooks below the sinker throats to loop stitches upon said needles, and a cam then engageable by the needle butts to elevate the needles until the needle hooks come substantially level with the sinker throats and the needles pass through saidV stitches suiiiciently that the stitches rest upon the needles immediately below the hooks thereby leaving,` the stitches loose, said cylinder wall being uninterrupted in the circumferential plane ot said last cam up to a position in which the needles are subsequently acted upon to cause the latches to clear the stitches, thereby avoiding disturbance ot the needle butts and keeping the needle hooks in the aforesaid relationship with the stitches t'or a corresponding determined time.

5. A knitting` machine having a cylinder, needles carried thereby, sinkers mounted upon the needle cylinder; in combination a cam cylinder, a system of Cams carried thereby lor actuating the needles including a stitch cam over which the needle butts pass to depress the needle hooks below the sinker throats to loop stitches upon said needles, a cam then engageable by the needle butts to elevate the needles until the needle hooks come substantially level with the sinker throats and the needles pass through said stitches sudiciently that the stitches rest upon the needles immediately below the hooks thereby leavingthe stitches loose, said cylinder wall being uninterrupted in the circumferential plane ot said last cam up to a position in which the needles are subsequently raised to cause the latches to clear o. rllhe steps of the herein described procthe stitches, thereby avoiding disturbance of the needle butts and keeping the needle hooks in the aforesaid relationship With the stitches for a corresponding determined time; and a cani in said position to defiect the needle butts upward from said circumferential plane thereby to raise the needle hooks out of said relationship with the sinker` throats and suliiciently high above the sinkers that the latches may clear the stitches looped upon the needles.

6. A knitting machine having a circumferential series of sinkers, needles operable between the sinkers, a reciprocablc cani cylinder having an uninterrupted zone eX- tending nearly the circumferential distance, the needle hooks and latches being confined Within the sinkers While said needle butts occupy said zone, a pair of stitch cains alternately becoming operative to cause 'the needles to loop stitches when knitting heels and toes, and an initiator cani at the approach of each stitch cam causing the elevation of the needle butts from said Zone and the raising' of the hooks and latches above the sinkers preparatory to the looping` of said stitches.

7. A knitting machine having a circumferential series of sinkers` sets of long and short-butt needles operable between the sinkers, a cani cylinder Which is reciprocable While knitting heels and toes, a system otl cams including stitch cams at one side of the carn cylinder, there being an unintcrrupted zone extending from and ending at said cani system, said zone being occupied by the needle butts Without bottom support at which time the needle hooks and latches are housed in the sinkers, and a cani projectable into said Zone at the other side of the cain cylinder intercepting and raising the long butts to a level above said cam system and elevating the corresponding needle hooks and latches to an inactive position above the sinkers.

JOSEPH PARKS PRIMM. 

